6 Hours in Seattle

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Not including all of my SEA-TAC layovers, I’ve only really been to Seattle once. And even then, it was unfortunately only a short day trip. Still I fell in love with the city.

Well, love is a strong word for only 6 or so hours. I really really liked Seattle.

Maybe Seattle is just an incredible city and it’s impossible to dislike it. Or maybe it was because I visited in the middle of summer when it was hot and sunny, on a weekday so not much traffic, and I was celebrating a birthday week so I was already in a fantastic mood with all the other travel activities I had planned for the week.

The world will never know.

In any case, this is how I spent my short time exploring this beautiful city!

Hour 0:

I actually arrived in Seattle the night before, driving up from Portland. I don’t know why I did this, but I got to drive through the city at night and see all the lights. Gorgeous. I headed immediately to the cheapest lodging and went to sleep because I’m basically a sloth. BUT! If you happen to be a night owl, I’d recommend checking out the night scene if you have the opportunity! The yelp reviews on a few of the clubs were hilarious hahaha.

Hour 1: 

After waking up bright and early at 8, I took advantage of the free subpar breakfast at the hotel. Then I went back to sleep. BUT you should make the most of your bright morning in Seattle and hit up one of the local breakfast spots! I have been recommended a few places since then, and these definitely would have gotten me out of my hotel.

Portage Bay Cafe:  Their motto is local, organic, and sustainable. Totally the pnw vibe. Plus, they take reservations. No waiting in lines when you have those early morning hunger pains. http://www.portagebaycafe.com/

Biscuit Bitch: The place to go if you’ve got a hankerin’ for some old school biscuits, gravy, and plenty of sass. They also have gluten-free biscuits. http://www.biscuitbitch.com/

Lowell’s Restaurant: If you’re looking for breakfast with a waterfront view, stop by Lowell’s Restaurant! With three floors of water view seating, you’re sure to start your day off *~*inspired*~* http://eatatlowells.com/

Hour 2: (~10:00)

When you think of iconic Seattle, what first comes to mind? Well, besides Starbucks coffee. And Big Foot.

THE SPACE NEEDLE!

It was a Monday, so street parking wasn’t too bad and I parked about a block away. You can also pay for parking AT the Space Needle, it’s just a little more expensive. But convenient! I took a few bad photos of the Space Needle from the bottom, and then headed up  the elevator to SPACE. Nah, it’s 605 feet (about 184 meters), but it doesn’t make the top 100 tallest buildings in the world. STILL, it’s pretty huge, and offers amazing views of the city.

After you’ve gotten your fill at the Space Needle, head downstairs and right next door is the Chihuly Garden and Glass art museum. It’s absolutely amazing! If you decide to visit both the museum and the Space Needle, there’s a double ticket discount, so really there’s no reason not to!

Hour 3: (~11:00)

I wandered about on foot, tried to visit another museum nearby but it was closed on Monday (*tear drop*), so instead I found a cool little sculpture park! Specifically, the Olympic Sculpture Park!

It’s such a cute and quaint park, and honestly the reason I liked Seattle so much. The sculptures were interesting, bright, and more importantly, perfect lounging-around material. Everyone in the park was just chillin, chatting about their lives and taking naps in the shade. If you’re looking for a happy place in the middle of a major city, find a bench here, close your eyes, and enjoy the moment.

Hour 4: (~12:00-1:00pm)

Completely relaxed from the park, I made my way to Pike Place Market.

You could seriously get lost here, in a good way.

There’s like a million shops (barely an exaggeration) and its so entertaining to explore the market. There wasn’t any fish throwing, but that’s probably for the best. There’s a ton of little knick knack booths, as well as fresh produce and flowers from local farmers. It’s like a farmer’s market inside of the market. They even have specialty grocery stores if you’re looking for a particular spice or ingredient.  There’s a lot of local artisans with crafts booths set up and a good handful of indie book stores.

Just off the street of Pike Place Market is the original Starbucks! (Though, it first was located at a different location, then later moved to its current location). If you want to brave the lines to get inside just to say you went to the FIRST STARBUCKS, go for it, but I was on a time crunch. Also I hate lines. And I don’t like coffee.

Hour 5: (~2:00) 

Time for a late lunch! Not much planning went into this short day trip, so I didn’t have any lunch spots in mind. I just went somewhere nearby the market that had decent yelp reviews.

I ended up at Rub With Love, mostly because of the name, and it was pretty good! Not only do they sell sandwiches, but they also have meat rubs for sale (*wink emoji*). I’m the second worst cook in the world, but if you’re looking for a fun and unique souvenir, this would be a good present!

Hour 6: (~3:00)

To end the day, I went down to the pier. I think the famous Seattle Gum Wall is somewhere nearby, but gum walls kind of gross me out so I skipped it. More recently, the city decided to clean the wall off, but of course, it has already been re-gummed. Anyways, back to the story. I absolutely love piers and if it’s got a ferris wheel, it’s automatically an amazing pier. I took a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel for even more views of the city, this time, with an aquatic feel. It was peaceful and the perfect way to end the day.

I take that back, the perfect way to end the day was with THE BEST LEMONADE I HAD EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. As I was leaving the pier and headed back to my car, I spotted a lemonade stand with a energetic-enough teenager. It may have been the 5 million pumps of syrup, but CHIIIIIILD this lemonade changed my life. I’m ready to head back to Seattle just for that drank.

Next one my list was the public library, but I had run out of time. It was rapidly approaching traffic hour and I had to get back to Portland for a dinner reservation so my Seattle trip had come to an end. Seattle is an amazing port city and I can’t wait to go again this upcoming summer! Have you ever been to Seattle? What are some must-see/eat/explore places for my next trip?

Also, has anyone ever played Super Mario Sunshine? Seattle reminds me of Ricco Harbor. Does anyone else get that vibe, or is it just me??

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